Insect Shield Treatment

[Ryan C]

Does anyone have experience with Insect Shield treated clothing? Is it as effective as regular permethrin treatment? Does it really last up to 70 washes?

I hike a lot in the Eastern U.S. where ticks are a problem and will be in Alaska mosquito territory later this month for a couple of weeks. I would be interested in treating some clothes with Sawyer permethrin but am afraid it would harm our two kitty cats. The Railriders Eco Mesh pants with insect Shield seem ideal as I would not have to treat them and they would be awesome for trekking.

Any thoughts or experiences?

[Steven McAllister]

You can treat your clothes without the cats having issues by soaking your clothes in solution, hanging them to dry in an area that the cats can't get to. Then wash after the clothes are fully dry.

The clothes should be cat safe from that point on.

Permethrin is very effective with ticks, less effective with mosquitoes as mosquitoes tend to bite exposed skin and ticks tend to crawl on your treated clothes.

I had a mosquito bite me through the mesh on my treated eco-mesh shirt. This was in a heavy mosquito area though.

[Ryan C]

That is good to know Steven, thanks for the tips. I thought that treated clothing would still be dangerous for cats, especially if they got laundered with other clothes. Maybe someone else can confirm this.

Regarding Insect Shield, I am still interested in those Railriders Eco Mesh pants as the treatment would last longer rather than Sawyer which I have read only works for a few washings or 6 weeks. Re-treating regularly with permethrin on a thru-hike may be difficult whereas Insect Shield may last an entire trek.

[Steven McAllister]

I forgot to mention that I have two cats and have not had issue, as long as I was careful to not get them anywhere near the treatment process.

I do tend to keep my outdoors clothes away from the cats, but it isn't always possible as they tend to be all over us when we get home.

No problems in the two years I've been treating my clothes.

[Ryan C]

Thanks for sharing your experience Steven, it makes me feel better!

One last bump: does anyone else here on the forums have any experience with Insect Shield treated products?

[Jason Hortin]

I have the same concerns. I really want to treat my current favorite pant – REI Endeavor convertibles – but am afraid the kitties might want to get near them while I'm wearing them.

Regarding the treatment process, do you recommend soaking them in or just spraying (heavily) the garments?

[Steven McAllister]

I find the soak method easier to contain. Less chance of getting permethrin on the surrounding area.

Spray would be OK, if you are careful about containing the overspray so that the cats don't come in contact with the ground around the spray area.

Be aware that permethrin is dangerous to most insects, bees, butterflies and other bugs you don't want to harm.

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